Theoretical considerations of tracer dilution methods for flow evaluation

Johannes Lanzersdorfer

IGHEM Conference Trondheim 2012

Motivation
Presentation of the derivation of general formulations independently on the choice of tracer in one piece of paper Investigation of the advantages and drawbacks of the discharge evaluation techniques (sudden injection, constantrate injection) Bias of the results when measuring the dilution factor outside the water system Required instrumentation for reliable measurements

IGHEM Conference Trondheim 2012

Tracer methods General properties

Primary method for discharge/mass flow measurement (IEC 60041 1991, ASME PTC 18 2011) Chemical method using tracer (e.g. dyes, salt, radioactive tracers, ) Advantages:

Applicable in closed and open conduits, turbine and pump mode Low measurement uncertainty ~ 1.0 2.0 % (95% confidence) Low costs

Drawbacks:

High degree of intermixture tracer water required Handling with chemical products/doing stoichiometry on site is tricky and needs practice

IGHEM Conference Trondheim 2012

Tracer methods Scheme

Q = q * (C1 C1)/(C2 C0) Q ~ q *C1/C2
C0

C1/C2 > 105

Tracer injection: Discharge q Initial concentration C1

Dilution measurement: Final concentration C2

IGHEM Conference Trondheim 2012

Principle of the method

IGHEM Conference Trondheim 2012

Principle of the method

IGHEM Conference Trondheim 2012

Principle of the method

IGHEM Conference Trondheim 2012

Principle of the method

Pre-dilution

Transit time

Detection

IGHEM Conference Trondheim 2012

Variants of the method

Sudden injection

Constant-rate injection

Transit time method

IGHEM Conference Trondheim 2012

Impact of non-constant extraction delay t3

Measurement of Dilution factor D

Extraction flow q(t)

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IGHEM Conference Trondheim 2012

Impact of non-constant extraction delay t3

Time transformation required

to ensure the criterion

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IGHEM Conference Trondheim 2012

Time transformation assuming rigid drops Constant extraction

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IGHEM Conference Trondheim 2012

Time transformation assuming rigid drops Linear increasing/decreasing extraction

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IGHEM Conference Trondheim 2012

Time transformation assuming rigid drops Oscillating extraction

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IGHEM Conference Trondheim 2012

Time transformation assuming rigid drops Discrete extraction

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IGHEM Conference Trondheim 2012

Conclusion
Extraction flow (and pre-dilution flow) needs to be monitored too when doing tracer dilution measurements Experimental falsification of the suggested time transformation needs to be done AND Refinement of the transformation theory

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IGHEM Conference Trondheim 2012